The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1887-04-09
Correspondence Baltimore County Union.
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON.
Scarcity Of News-Mrs. Cleveland and the
Newspaper Men-Sullivan and the
President-Mrs. Whitney's Won
derful Baby The Inter State
Commission, &C., &C.

WASHINGTON, D. c., April 5th, 1887.
Editors Union:-For the last few weeks there
has been little transporting here to interest per-
sons outside Of the Capital that have refrained
from attempting to write you anything, but have
simply amused myself observing how other news
paper scribbers toiled and fretted to work up
something that they might call news. Especially
was this the case with the 'regulars" who must
produce something for their papers, although the
soil from which the production must come may be
as barren old field that is 80 WORKOUT that
poverty grass will not grow upon it. All your
farmer readers will know what that means.
Mrs. Cleveland, who adorns the White House,
has been familiar subject for these correspon-
dents-one always ready at hand sort of God
send as it were to them-about whom, when moth
ing else exciting interesting to write about
could be found, whole columns have been written
about her, everything she looks at, says or does,
and without that familiar subject of the lady Of
the White House, the grist they served up to their
respective newspapers would have indeed been
poor. But may not the most agreeable of subjects
be worked up ad nauseami Certainly the men
readers of newspapers who have wives, or even If
they have not, cannot be greatly interested in the
constant and superfuous laudation of one woman
in whom they have no particular interest, even
though she be the wife of tho President, and, if
have been correct student of human nature,
am very sure that the lady readers are not for
each one would like little praise for herself and
some admiration, which she cannot share when
they are bestowed upon one other.
Another staple topic Of the newspaper cores
pondents here was the Presidents receptions
Whole columns were written about these receptions
and the hand-shakings with the President, but all
these could be of particular interest to the gen.
eral public, but to make note of them, except 1t
we're that they were unusual and had recently
originated. But the fact is that just such recep
tions have been transpiring ever since the Gov
eminent began, and the reading public of the
whole country is familiar with them.
But occasionally there are some things, some
innovation or something new or unusual that &C.
ours that is worthy of being mentioned or longer
note made of it by the newspaper scribe than these
usual formal things. One of these little episodes
occurred here Monday, when the great renowned
John L. Sullivan, of Boston, stood before the Pres
ident shaking hands with him. But John could
not say anything. He was speechless. Here is
little point for the students of human nature to
cogitate upon. How was it that John L., roll
licking fellow, said to be, when out in the world,
in different atmosphere among the "boys" and
sporting men of the ring, could say nothing when
in the presence of the President and in an entire
~ different atmosphere? 1t shows that every
man is "most at homo" when he is on his own
heath and among those he knows and who know
him, and that John was "not there" when in the
East room of the White House. But from the
sequel it would be difficult after all to determine
whether John not the greater man of the two,
the President and himself, for Immediately on his
leaving the President the whole crowd left also
and followed John out into the open air.
Mrs. Secretary Whitney's baby's reception also
may be considered little innovation on the usual
beaten path of the formal receptions, for whatever
has heretofore been gotten up to vary the monoto-
ny or routine of receptions, do not think it is
recorded in the official history, which includes the
history of the governmental social circles of our
country, that baby like Mrs. Whitney's ever be-
fore held receptions formal, social reception.
This may be because very few babies were ever in
the social circles before to hold one. Mrs. Will
COX, of this city, with whom am acquainted, was
the only baby ever born in the White House. She
made her appearance in the world during one of
President Jackson's terms, but do not hear that
even she held reception when baby. But Mrs.
Whitneys baby, being daughter of Cabinet
officer, young as it is yet to determine anything,
has determined that reception is proper thing
to hold, when it holds anything. and the mother
being immensely wealthy is amply able to help it
along in the monetary expenses of one.
The new marble front Baltimore Sun Building
on street, N. w. six or seven stories high, which
is of the most solid, costly and handsome pri-
vste buildings in this city, has been selected as
the headquarters of the Inter- State Commerce
Commission, it occupying the fifth floor. Hon.
Benz. F. Butler was here to rent the Commission
his stone palace on Capitol Hill, but did not sue
coed. Already petitions, briefs and railroad coun-
sci have begun to pour in upon the Commission.
It will not have q smooth road to travel to decide
all the knotty questions that will come before it.
The coming National drill next month and Ma
tional encampment in this city is causing much
talk. A very large number of persons from all
over the country will visit the city.
The Western municipal elections to-day are
eliciting much interest. The large vote of the
labor party is causing much surprise. That party
nearly carried Cincinnati yesterday and the Dem
ocrats have been compelled to join and are voting
freely the Republican ticket in Chicago to keep
the Anarchist or so-called Labor candidate from
being elected. What are the signs of the times
Is one great party, at least, by this movement 60
ing to be disintegrated? ANON.